Tom,
When your machine boots up, look to see if you have the option to enter set-up. It should show on the screen the hitting the del key or an f key will allow you to enter set up. When in set up, locate the onboard serial port and enable, use IRQ's which are available.

Parallel Port
See Serial Port. You may also see a parallel port mode, options being SPP, EPP/SPP, ECP, ECP/EPP. Set to either ECP, EPP, or both. These modes offer high transfer rates over the port as well as add bi-directional capabilities.

I would recommend that you annotae any changes made within the BIOS in the event you run into problems.

If your situation remains unresolved, please post your Motherboard information and BIOS details (at boot, you can view the information on screen by holding pause long enough to jot down details). Not all motherboards support plug and play devices, and the possible variations on BIOS setups is huge. Ideally you have your manual handy as well.

BTW, have you checked Device Manager in SAFE MODE? I'd bet you've got device conflicts and that you'll see problems with duplicates and/or unknown devices when you boot in SAFE MODE. Since ports are also a problem, I'd also remove all ports in SAFE MODE, have Windows 98 disks handy for reboot and reload (after verifying that your BIOS has enabled the needed ports). These may help.

What did Device Manager show you when you were in SAFE MODE and you expanded each element. Nothing there looked incorrect? That amazes me, since your situation sounds so like resource conflict either using the same IRQs DMAs or memory address ranges. Enabling everything in the BIOS "may" not be a good thing either.

Is there anything 'unique' that you setup in your system.ini file for ports or the like? Can eyeball quickly using Start-run-msconfig, or start-run-sysedit. We had one odd situation with printer-related ports once for an Epson Printer Port; but won't expound if that doesn't apply to you. If it does, advise.

Each Motherboard and BIOS version is unique. Two older systems, for example, has ASUS MBs and their BIOS is kept updated with fixes (BIOS updates). Also these are Plug and Play Motherboards and we've set them up to show PNP OS Yes in the Bios and don't use legacy equipment to have to force assignments. Nonetheless, with our setup, of PNP OS yes, and LPT1 being the standard default printer port enabled in the BIOS for our printer as a normal port, SPP setting for the other printer. COM ports are 2 by default, and system.ini is in place. When we wish to disable or bypass a particular setting in System.ini, we use msconfig only to bypass the one or two issues, rather than bypassing all.

As regards SAFE MODE, that's the point, only bare minimum stuff is loaded so that you can see everything in SAFE MODE, including problems. Since you continue to have problems with ports, that's the first thing I'd remove is the port settings, I'd also reinstate my initial correct ini file and/or at least view the difference between the one I had when things worked well and compare it to what I now have when it doesn't work at all. Anytime I have problems with equipment that relies on a com or lpt port, I start the whole process of uninstall/reinstall after doing some of the basics already recommended in SAFE MODE.

There are many online help tools and I'd recommend starting with Start - Help and then search for troubleshooting and choose your troubleshooter.

Some folks just opt to reinstall the Windows 98 OS if roadblocks arise, but that means also redoing all WINDOWSUPDATES, and update drivers, etc.

I have reinstated my system.ini and win.ini files - no difference. My Dial-up Adapter was what caused the original problem of not being able to access Win98 (see the other topic by me in the Win98 area). That is now fixed and enabled. But I know that this doesn't have anything to do with the Printer, does it? That's Internet stuff I'm sure.

I've used the troubleshooter - it didn't help. I'm gonna try MS Support though - maybe they can pass some clues.

As to the SPP setting in the BIOS - i don't have one. what do you mean by 'COM ports are 2 by default'? Mine aren't.

I compared the system files and their replaced alternatives created by msconfig. I even copied some settings over - all the references to Printers and Ports for example.

If it would help I will send you a copy of my win.ini and system.ini files, and write down *ALL* the settings that are in Device Manager, sysconfig, msconfig etc.

Numerous unknowns remain, what printer type? Current drivers? Is a passthru being used? Anything else unique about your setup, such as Zip/Printer sharing, etc. Is there an updated Bios for your Motherboard? Is there damage to a component or port on your motherboard, etc. The possibilities and causes really vary by configuration and setup.

Kind of basic but have you uninstalled then reinstalled the printer? Have you also checked the HP web site for updated printer drivers to make sure you got the right ones for Win 98? The ones included with Win 98 are not always the right ones especially for older printers.

You're right, I found the same thing; none of the searched I've done have produced any Windows 98 drivers for the 310. Additionally, no luck yet on determining if this printer has bi-directional support (but I rather doubt it). I've even searched for PDF files on your printer to see if I can see a manual about the Port setting recommendations. I'd guess it should be set to a standard versus bi-directional setting. Does your manual say anything about this being a bi-directional printing requiring DMA, etc?

It's a pretty old printer - about 5 years I think. The manual doesn't even have references to Windows 95, let alone 98.

Nothing is said about any port settings at all. I know the printer works (my Dad can use it from his Laptop - he uses Win98) and the connections are all fine (the printer can detect whether or not the computer is on or not, the paper goes through the printer on startup).

There is Compatible, Bi-directional, ECP and EPP - but none of these has made any difference so far. The problem is that there are so many different combinations of settings working together that 'Compatible' may be what I want, but I don't know because maybe another setting is wrong elsewhere!

Hi Tom, Asta asked me to join the group to see if I can help. Windows 98 does have native drivers for that printer that do work, so I suspect that if it isn't a bios problem, it just may be something in the Windows registry left over from the upgrade. Give this a try in the order provided and let me know how you make out.

1. Reboot the system and either hold the Ctrl key down right after memory post or when you see the “Starting Windows…” dialogue, touch the F8 key.
2. Choose #5 Command (MSDOS) Prompt only.
3. At the dos prompt, change directories to X:\Windows\Command, with “X” being the directory where Windows is installed.
4. Now type SCANREG/FIX <enter>
5. Follow the dialogue and let Scanreg review your registry and make any necessary repairs.
6. When Scanreg is done, reboot into Windows.

NEXT:

1. Insert your Windows 98 CD Rom disk into the drive.
2. Click Start, Run and type SFC <OK>
3. This will start the System File Checker.
4. Click on the settings button and select “Check for changed and deleted files” and click OK to start.
5. Replace any files that are detected as bad or corrupt. Also watch the file dates carefully and always try and replace older files (pre-May 1998) with newer files, and most important, always use the latest version numbers for all files. SFC will copy the old file to X:\Windows\Sysbckup in case you need it back.
6. When SFC is done, reboot the system and note the performance.

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Doesn't work. It just freezes the machine. I tried using my scanner (to LPT1 the same as my printer) today and that didn't work either.

Another conflict popped up today in the IRQs and DMAs in the Device Manager, but by re-enabling COM1 in the BIOS it cancelled that out. Still doesn't work though.

The Labels for the ports keep changing in the Device Manager, from COM1 up to COM5 or 6. I don't think I have ne more that COM1, COM2 and LPT1, I'm not even sure about COM2, although the modem reports to being connected to it.

I was going to try connecting the printer to a different port, but I haven't got any free on the back of my machine.

Tom, boot that machine to the Win98 boot floppy and at the dos prompt run a directory of the "C" drive and print it in pure dos, does it print? This will tell you if there's something wrong with the LPT port on the motherboard.
Dennis

Try Printing from a Command Prompt and Lpt1.dos
-----------------------------------------------

Printing from a Command Prompt:

Printing from a command prompt is a useful way to determine if your printer
hardware is connected properly, and can receive instructions from the computer
by copying a file to your printer. To do so:

1. Verify that the printer is turned on and is online without any printer
errors.

2. Verify that no printer sharing devices (printer switch boxes, and so on) or
daisy-chained devices (such as SCSI CD-ROMs, Zip drives and so on) are
connected between the computer and printer.

3. Restart your computer. For Windows 95, press F8 when you see the "Starting
Windows 95" message, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the
Startup menu.

For Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after
your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe
Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu. For more information about
Windows 98 startup, click the article number below to view the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

4. At the command prompt, type the appropriate line and then press ENTER:

NOTE: The following commands assume your printer is connected to lpt1 (the
normal default printer port). If your printer is connected to a different
printer port, substitute that printer port number in the following commands.
Also, these commands assume you have a Mouse.txt file in your Windows folder.
If you do not have a Mouse.txt file in your Windows folder, try substituting
the License.txt file, the Support.txt file, or the Config.txt file from the
Windows folder.

Standard Printer

copy c:\windows\mouse.txt lpt1

Laser Printer

copy c:\windows\mouse.txt lpt1 /b

PostScript Printer, Windows 95 Only

copy c:\Windows\System\testps.txt lpt1

NOTE: These commands copy a file to the printer. If the file is not printed or
you receive a Write Fault error message, there may be a problem with the printer
port, the printer cable, or the printer. You may want to try using a different
printer cable, or if possible, test with a different printer. Also, if you
determine that you can print from a command prompt, but not from Windows, try
the steps included in the "You Can Print from a Command Prompt But Not
Windows-Based Programs" section later in this article.

When you copy a file to some inkjet and laser printers, you may need to press the
Form Feed or Resume key after the printer has received the print job, or the
printer may not eject the paper.

Printing from LPT1.DOS:

Printing to the LPT1.DOS port is similar to printing to a file and then copying
the file to the printer port. To enable the LPT1.DOS port in Windows:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.

2. Right-click the printer you want to use, and then click Properties.

3. On the Details tab, click Add Port.

4. In the Add Port dialog box, click Other, click Local Port, click OK, and then
type "lpt1.dos" (without the quotation marks) in the Enter A Port Name box.
Click OK.

NOTE: Printing to the LPT1.DOS port may be slower than printing to the standard
LPT1 port. Because printing to LPT1.DOS uses low-level DOS commands to send a
print job to the printer, not all of the available wiring (or lines) in the port
and printer cable are used. Because of this, if printing to LPT1.DOS is
successful, this may indicate a problem with the printer port or printer cable.

It appears that your printer port on the motherboard has a problem. Boot into the Bios/CMOS settings and check the settings for that port -OR- locate the manual fot that motherboard and reset (clear) the CMOS with the jumper on the motherboard, boot into the Bios setup and set it to its default settings, save them and then test the port.

You have no magic wand to make your computer revive, so you must use all the weapons you have available.

The effect of changing the printer port has NO way of getting things worse than they are now. You said you've tested with EPP and ECP, with no avail, but you didn't tested the simplest SP (Standard Parallel) form.

>>- I've no way of making back-ups

The change of parallel port specifications will not affect your valuable data in any way.

>>I need to know exactly how it could affect my system.

If we're lucky, you machine can start to run smoothly and your printer work the proper way. If not, you won't be worse than now.

We need to do this in order, so from here on out, don't jump around from one thing to the next as I will have no clue as to what you are doing.

First: In the manual for the motherboard, look for a single jumper to clear the motherboards CMOS. It will be set to its default normally. By moving the jumper, this will clear the CMOS. Before doing anything, you will need to locate exactly where that jumper is. Once found, this is the order of things.

A. From within windows, go into My Computer, Printers folder and remove all printers.

D. Now move the CMOS jumper to the clear CMOS jumper set. Usually this means moving the jumpers from the default 2 pins to the 2 pins to clear it. Once you move the jumpers, give it a 10 count and then move it back to the default position.

E. Now plug the power cord back in.

F. Now, when you start the PC, you will need to boot right into the Bios setup as you will have cleared all of the settings. Reset the bios to its defaults, save the settings and boot into windows.

G. Windows should now see the LPT port and load the appropriate drivers.

H. Now install the printer drivers via Add Printer in the printers folder. Don't use separate drivers from a floppy unless your printer doesn't show up in the printers list.

At this stage, test the printer and let me know where you stand. This will enable us to determine whether its a problem with the Pack Bell motherboard or something else. If the port on the motherboard is bad, you may have to pickup a cheap add-on printer port and put it into a slot on the motherboard.

You mean date & time? I'm mailing from school, as various components of my PC are scattered around my home office. I've located the jumper and am currently working out exactly how to set the jumper to the 'clear' position. Do I press it in? Move a switch? Well I'll see when I take a look this evening.

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